(a) whether any quantity has been prescribed for various ingredients including pulses, edible oil and vegetables to be included in food under mid day meal per day per child basis and also cost is decided by the Government for these items at national/State levels and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to permit the States to work out the cost of various items as per prevailing rates and also meet 75% of the actual expenditure incurred by the States on the items included in cooking cost and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, whether the Government proposes to review the cooking cost norms on quarterly basis and if so, the details thereof?

Answer:

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) The following quantities of various ingredients have been prescribed under the Mid Day Meal Scheme:
S.No. Items Quantity Per Day

Primary Upper Primary

1. Food grains 100 gm 150 gm

2. Pulses 20 gm 30 gm

3. Vegetables (leafy also) 50 gm 75 gm

4. Oil & fat 5 gm 7.5 gm

5. Salt & Condiments As per need As per need

Food grains are supplied by Central Government to the States/UTs free of cost through the Food Corporation of India. The cost of other ingredients such as pulses, vegetables, oil and salt is included in the cooking cost, which is Rs. 3.11per head for Primary and Rs.4.65per head for Upper Primary students.

(b) & (c) In view of different market prices prevailing in different States/UTs for pulses, vegetables, oil, salt, the cooking cost has been fixed uniformly for all States/UTs. To counteract the effect of rise in cost the cooking cost has been enhanced by 7.5% in each of the last three years. There is no proposal for reviewing the cooking cost on a quarterly basis.